Interns with the T-Bones get real-world experience, including selling tickets during the winter.

02/03/2017 12:12 PM -

To paraphrase a line from “Bull Durham,” they announce their presence with authority each season, whether it’s working at the promotions table, helping on the field with a contest between innings, or dancing on the dugouts. Of course, “they” are the promotions interns. Even though they’re the interns the fans see the most around CommunityAmerica Ballpark during games, interns are vital to each department’s success. That could mean selling individual or group tickets, fostering relationships with corporate partners, helping with stadium or field upkeep, designing graphics that are used on social media, or writing nightly game recaps. It’s a way for students to gain invaluable, real-world experience, as well as college credit.

However, the importance of interns extends to the offseason, also. This winter, the T-Bones have outstanding interns in a few departments. With the summer internships open now, we thought it would be fun to learn more about the winter interns.

Nick BurtSchool and year in school: Mizzou, graduated
Major: Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Sport Management
Hometown: Chesterfield, Mo.
Department: Group Sales
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? My advisor highly recommended them, as a former employee.
What have you enjoyed most so far? Meeting the staff, getting more comfortable on the phones, and making my first sale.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the internship? Being patient with fans not immediately ready to make a group commitment.
What’s one thing that you’ve learned that surprises you? How much personal responsibility we have and how we are trusted to make and manage our calls to customers. Plus I like not being checked up on every 10 minutes.

Brendan CarneySchool and year in school: William Jewell College, Senior
Major: Business Administration
Hometown: Wildwood, Mo.
Department: Corporate Sales
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? I’m interested in going into a career in sports and this was a great opportunity to get my foot in the door.
What have you enjoyed most so far? Getting to see how a sports team operates day in and day out.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the internship? Applying what I have learned in school into this job.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that surprises you? How much goes into the contracts with outside organizations in order for them to advertise.

Gary GulickSchool and year in school: William Jewell College, Senior
Major: Communications
Hometown: Miller, Mo.
Department: Corporate Sales
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? I was excited about the opportunity to intern for a professional baseball team and learn how the off-the-field side of a team works in the professional sports world.
What have you enjoyed most so far? I have enjoyed the challenge of learning something that wasn’t in my area of expertise or major, and also taking what I have learned in school and applying that to this internship.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this internship? The most challenging aspect of this internship so far has been learning the things I didn’t know, being a communications major. The marketing side of this internship has been a new experience for me, but one that has been interesting and informative.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that surprises you? One thing I’ve learned that has surprised me is the depth of the marketing agreements and what goes into deciding where to advertise and how much to do so. I always knew there was more to it than meets the eye, but the extensiveness was surprising.

Andrew Majzan
School and year in school: University of Kansas, Senior
Major: Sports Management with a Business minor
Hometown: Barrington, Ill.
Department: Ticket Operations
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? I chose to intern with the T-Bones because it is a fantastic organization that attracts a lot of attention and would provide me with great lessons to sharpen my skills as a professional and as a person.
What have you enjoyed most so far? Practicing my sales skills and learning more about what a sport organization does in the off-season.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the internship? Having to deal with sales rejections. I’m getting better with that, though.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that surprises you? How good I can be on the phone making sales calls.

Garrett McKinzie
School and year in school: William Jewell, Senior
Major: Recreation and Sport
Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Mo.
Department: Corporate Sales
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? I chose to intern with the T-Bones to get a greater understanding of what goes on behind the scenes off the field and to hopefully pursue a career in this field.
What have you enjoyed most so far? I have enjoyed learning how companies choose to advertise to influence more consumers.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the internship? Applying the knowledge I have acquired from college and bringing it to the sales world.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that surprises you? I have been surprised to understand how sales are made and how they dictate events that go on throughout the year.

Dylan PollockSchool and year in school: William Jewell College, Fifth Year
Major: Business Administration and Economics
Hometown: Longmont, Colo.
Department: Corporate Sales
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? I wanted to be learn the aspects of the front office of sports and still be around the baseball atmosphere.
What have you enjoyed most so far? Working with fellow interns with similar interests.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the internship? Not fully knowing current marketing strategies or the details of certain aspects of the Kansas City T-Bones.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that surprises you? Building relationships outside of the organization are just as important as the relationships within.

Tyler Savaiinaea
School and year in school: Midland University, Senior
Major: Business and Human Performance
Hometown: Atchison, Kan.
Department: Group Sales
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? Close to my hometown; been to the stadium as a kid; hope to get good experience.
What have you enjoyed most so far? Getting over my shyness of talking to people.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the internship? Learning the computer programs for tickets and contracts.
What’s one thing you’ve learned that surprises you? How casual we can be when selling.

Ian Wilmore
School and year in school: Mizzou, Senior
Major: Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Department: Group Sales
Why did you want to intern with the T-Bones? I had heard positive things about the organization and have a desire to work in baseball.
What have you enjoyed the most so far? Making cold calls and connecting with potential clients.
What has been the most challenging aspect of the internship? Learning and memorizing all the different price points and ticket plans.
What’s one thing that you’ve learned that surprises you? How quickly I became comfortable talking to strangers on the phone.

If you’d like to apply for a summer internship with the T-Bones, click here.